Does sedation influence cardiac magnetic resonance duration for children?

The aims of our study were to compare cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) scan time (time elapsed between first and last acquired sequence) and room time (time elapsed between patients' entrance and exit of the MRI room) between sedated and non-sedated children and to assess the contributing factors.

It is a cohort study performed at a CMR facility in a tertiary-care center. We compared scan time and room time between sedated and non-sedated children and assessed the influence of gender, age, weight, height, body surface area, number of sequences, and patients' diagnosis/previous procedures.

We included 140 children (74 sedated and 66 non-sedated), age 7.6 years (3-12) and body surface area 0.83 m² (0.57-1.25). The most common diagnosis/previous procedures were repaired tetralogy of Fallot, cardiomyopathies and single ventricle. Number of sequences: 18 (16-22). Scan time: 42 min (35-54.2); room time: 53 min (46-63). There was difference in room time between sedated and non-sedated children (57.6 ± 13.6 vs 52.2 ± 15 min, p < 0.05), but not in scan time (47.2 ± 14.1 vs 43.9 ± 16 min, p 0.2). The only factor associated with scan time was the number of sequences (r 0.75, p < 0.001). The only factor associated with room time was single ventricle as indication (r 0.26, p 0.007).

Sedated children spent 5 more minutes in the CMR room than non-sedated children. Single ventricle was associated with increased room time. Number of sequences correlated with scan time. Sedation did not influence these times.